Dec 29, 2018 | RNyenhuis | 567 views
Aces Guns Largely Silent in Three Game Weekend Series
Coaching Staff Searching for secret to muzzled Cannons
The Rod Smith Novice B Aces came out of a three game weekend series with only 2 points in three close battles leaving the Aces stuck in the bottom half of the competitive Central West division of the LLFHL with 18 points, seven points back of the division leading Woolwich Wild.
The Aces hosted the Twin City Heracanes Friday December 21 at the Molson pad. The games displayed the improvement of most of the teams in the division as the second to last Herances answered every Ace aggression with an equal assault. Reese Flanagan was ready for the test posting her 5th shutout of the season with her amazing lateral movement covering the bottom of the net on every shot and wrap around attempt. Linley Porter assured the victory with a beautiful wrist shot in the slot giving the Aces a 1-0 win.
The girls hosted the League Leading Woolwich Wild for a Saturday Matinee at the Molson rink. Coach Cameron knew he had a battle on his hands and was looking for inspiration to spark his team and try to solve the low scoring girls goal drought. Ace D Niahm Appel was right and ready for the task as the coaching staff gave her the nod to move from the blue line to lead the Ace front end to get her strong wrist shot closer the the opposition's net. The move paid some dividends but the Aces were up against a strong Wild netminder solving her just once after a fierce attack from Appel, Porter and finally a bang in from winger Emerie Smith. The wild kept pressure on the Ace net battering Flanny as she tried her best to hold her own against the league leading offense. in the third, with the Aces down 2-1 a streaking Wild winger blazed in the the boards and ripped a wrister post marked for Flanny's glove side top shelf. With the flare of the the great Calgary Flame net minder Mike Vernon, Reese's cat-like reflexes took over as she nabbed the bullet out of the air to the delightful audible gasp of relief of the home crowd. The Wild would add an empty net insurance goal late in the third as the Aces pinched to desperately tie things up against the strong Wild team.
The Aces hit the road early Sunday morning to round out the weekend before Christmas travelling to Kitchener to battle against the ever improving Lady Rangers. Coach Cameron kept his secret blue line weapon Appel on the front lines hoping for the result the Aces needed. The girls fought hard as Appel found the Ranger's goalie with her cannon wrister 3 or 4 times. The Ranger goalie was equal to the task each time. Overall the Ace offence was starting to show signs of improvement hitting the Ranger net hard but finding a goalie ready for every attack. Myla Burdett's blue line work earned her Ace D of the game in a tight 1-0 loss to the Rangers.
The Ace coaching staff will take their tough weekend and find the positive spots to continue to build their team as they head into the home stretch of the regular season into 2019. It is clear to see the Aces have all the artillery to be the top contender in this fiercely competitive division.
Happy New Year to all